Visual shopping

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are provided for customizing consumer products. A display device may present a rendering of a customizable product to a user. The display device may also present a set of customizations on a scrollable axis. An input interface such as a touch interface may receive a selection of at least one customization from the user, and the rendering of the product may be updated to display the customizations selected by the user. An electronic file may be generated that includes product manufacturing details, which indicate the customizations selected by the user. The product may be an article of footwear, and a printer may print the selected customizations on the article of footwear.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This applications claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/753,797 entitled “Visual Shopping” and filed on Jan. 17, 2013 as wellas U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/753,765 entitled “VisualShopping” and filed on Jan. 17, 2013, each of which are incorporated byreference in their entirety in this application.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and computergenerated user interfaces for design of (e.g., customization of)consumer products, such as articles of footwear, articles of apparel,athletic equipment (e.g., bags, gloves, watches, socks, uniforms,protective equipment, pads, team gear, etc.).

BACKGROUND

Recent years have ushered in advancements in printing technologies andthere capabilities including manufacturing of customized products in avery short amount of time. While advances have been made, certaindrawbacks still remain in user selection of products to be customized.The present provides advances in the design and onsite delivery ofcustomized consumer products.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Various aspects of this disclosure relate to systems and methods fordesigning (e.g., customization of consumer products, such as articles offootwear by users. Various users may at a store location design andcustomize products which can be manufactured and delivered to the userduring the same shopping visit.

Additional aspects of this disclosure relate to user interfaces providedon computing devices that allow users to design consumer products, suchas articles of footwear. The computing device may generate a userinterface that displays a rendering of the product being customized. Theuser interfaces are generated by computer readable media includingcomputer executable instructions stored thereon for generating a desireduser interface on a display device, wherein the computer executableinstructions provide systems and methods and accept users' input forproduct (e.g., footwear) design.

In particular, a first aspect described herein provides a method forcustomizing consumer products. A display device may present a renderingof a customizable product to a user. The display device may also presenta set of customizations on a scrollable axis. A touch interface mayreceive a selection of at least one customization from the user, and therendering of the product may be updated to display the customizationsselected by the user. An electronic file may be generated that includesproduct manufacturing details, which indicate the customizationsselected by the user.

A second aspect described herein provides a system for customizingconsumer products. A display device presents a rendering of acustomizable product and a set of customizations to a user. The set ofcustomizations may be presented on a scrollable axis. An input interfacemay receive a selection of at least one customization from the user. Acustomization server may update the rendering of the product to displaythe customizations selected by the user. An electronic file may haveproduct manufacturing information details that indicate thecustomizations selected by the user.

While described above in conjunction with articles of footwear, aspectsof this invention also may be practiced in conjunction with design ofother products, such as apparel (including athletic apparel, uniforms,etc.) and athletic equipment (such as balls, bats, gloves, bags,protective equipment, team gear, pads, hockey sticks, watches, socks,etc.).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-noted and other features and aspects of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description, whenconsidered in conjunction with the appended drawings.

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate various examples of hardware and overallnetworking systems that may be used in accordance with various aspectsof the disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary store display which may be used inaccordance with various aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary user interface screen through whichproduct customization functionality may be used in accordance withvarious aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates another exemplary user interface screen through whichproduct customization functionality may be used in accordance withvarious aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary Cartesian coordinate system displayed onan interface screen which may be used in accordance with various aspectsof the disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary user selection interface screen inaccordance with various aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary user interface screen through whichproduct customization functionality may be used in accordance withvarious aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 illustrates another exemplary user interface screen through whichproduct customization functionality may be used in accordance withvarious aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 illustrates a user selection interface screen in accordance withvarious aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 illustrates another user selection interface screen inaccordance with various aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 11 illustrates a user input interface screen in accordance withvarious aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary user information interface screen inaccordance with various aspects of the disclosure.

FIGS. 13-14 illustrate exemplary payment interface screens through whichpayment processing may be used in accordance with various aspects of thedisclosure.

FIG. 15 illustrates a flow diagram in accordance with various aspects ofthe disclosure.

FIG. 16 illustrates exemplary print boundaries within whichcustomizations may be applied to an exemplary article of footwear.

FIG. 17 illustrates another user selection interface screen inaccordance with various aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 18 illustrates another user selection interface screen inaccordance with various aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 19 illustrates another user selection interface screen inaccordance with various aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 20 illustrates another user selection interface screen inaccordance with various aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 21 illustrates another user selection interface screen inaccordance with various aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 22 illustrates a representation of exemplary manufacturinginformation corresponding to exemplary customizations selected by a userfor an article of footwear.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general, as described above, some aspects of this disclosure relateto systems and methods for designing consumer products, such as articlesof footwear, apparel, and/or athletic equipment.

In an aspect of the disclosure, any desired type of apparel or athleticequipment design data may be modified, altered, or customized. Forinstance, any desired type of footwear design data may be controlled,altered, or customized by a user of systems and methods according tothis disclosure, such as: a color of a portion of the article offootwear (e.g., the various upper portions or elements, the variousmidsole portions or elements, the various outsole portions or elements,etc.); pictorial, indicia, or other graphical data that may be printedor otherwise provided on the shoe, including the picture, indicia, orgraphical data itself (i.e., so the picture, indicia, or graphic can begenerated), as well as data identifying the desired location for thepicture, indicia, or graphic on the shoe, the picture, indicia, orgraphic size, the picture, indicia, or graphic orientation, etc.; logodata that may be provided on the shoe (e.g., the footwear manufacturer'slogo, a team or group logo, etc.), including the logo data itself (i.e.,so the logo can be generated), as well as data identifying the desiredlogo location on the shoe, the desired logo size, the desired logocolor(s), the desired logo orientation, etc.; textual data that may beprovided on the shoe, including the textual data itself (i.e., so thetext can be generated), as well as data identifying the desired textlocation, the desired text size, the desired text color, the desiredtext orientation, the desired text font, etc. In addition, additionalfeatures such as shoe lace color may also be customized by the user.

In an aspect of the disclosure, a graphic element may be placed on ashoe structure, such as a picture, graph, icon, avatar, clip art, orother graphic element. If desired, systems, methods, and user interfacesin accordance with examples of this disclosure also may allow the userto drag the graphic around (e.g., using a pointer device) to aid inpositioning or orienting the graphic with respect to the shoe structure.The graphic may be applied to any desired portion of the shoe structurebeing designed, such as the upper, the midsole, the outsole, theinterior bootie, the tongue element (top side or underside), etc., andeven to multiple parts of the shoe, if desired.

While described below in conjunction with design of articles offootwear, aspects of this invention also may be used for design of otherconsumer products, such as articles of apparel, athletic equipment, etc.In the footwear example, a user may be permitted to select variousfeatures of the footwear and manipulate the visual image of the footwearon a display device via an interface at a store location or otherphysical location.

The user interface may display one or more tools for changing aspects ofor otherwise manipulating various design data of the footwear. In anaspect of the disclosure, a tool for quickly scanning, and making aselection, or choice, is disclosed. In an embodiment, the tool providesthe ability to see an array of options and quickly narrow down thoseoptions to facilitate and enable choices for a user.

Some design tools may include features like a lace color palette or lacecolor menu that allows users to change lace color of the article offootwear; one or more orientation elements that allow users to change anorientation of the article of footwear as rendered in the first displayportion; or other design features of the article of footwear such ascolor of the various portions of the footwear.

FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary hardware system on which various userinterfaces according to this disclosure may be implemented and on whichmethods according to this invention may be practiced. FIG. 1A shows afirst computing device 100, a second computing device 102, and a thirdcomputing device 103 connected and in communication with one another viaa network 104, such as via an internet connection, via a local areanetwork (LAN), via a wide area network (WAN), etc. The computing devices100, 102, and 103 may be located remotely from one another. Eachcomputing device may include a display such as touch display 136 ofcomputing device 103.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the computing devices 100, 102, and 103 eachestablish a communication channel within the network 104 and communicatewith a customization server system 106 (comprising one or more servercomputers) that provide data used to change the design (as will bedescribed in more detail below). Any desired communication link andcommunication protocol may be used to provide and control the dataexchange between computing devices 100, 102, and 103.

Any desired types of computing devices 100, 102, and 103 may be usedwithout departing from this disclosure, such as any computing devicecapable of establishing a networked connection and/or a peer-to-peerconnection and capable of providing the necessary display, userinterface, and input capabilities, as will be described in more detailbelow. Some more specific examples of computing devices 100, 102, and103 that may be used in systems and methods in accordance with at leastsome examples of this invention include, but are not limited to: desktopcomputers, personal computers, laptop computers, palmtop computers,handheld computers, cellular telephones, personal digital assistants,computer workstations, televisions, and the like. For instance, FIG. 1Aalso illustrates two handheld computing devices such as smart phones 142and 144 which may be used to communicate with customization server 106.In an embodiment, smart phone 142 may be a user's smart phone andsmartphone 144 may belong to store associate (e.g., a “Nike Athlete”).

The computing devices 100, 102, 103, 142, and 144 may be connected tothe network 104 in any desired manner without departing from thisdisclosure, including in conventional manners that are known and used inthe art, such as any conventional wired or wireless connection and usingany network connection protocol. In addition the computing devices 100,102, 103, 142, and 144 may be capable of communication among each otheror with customization server 106 via an instant messaging channel, apeer-to-peer messaging channel, a conventional telephone connection(which may use different hardware from that involved in inputting andexchanging the collaboration data), etc. As another alternative, ifdesired, the users could be located in close proximity to one anotherand may be allowed to communicate directly, in a face-to-faceconversation, without the need for a separate communication channel.

As will be described in more detail below, systems and methods inaccordance with examples of this disclosure will provide a userinterface display on computing devices 100, 102, 103, 142, and 144. Thisinterface may allow the user to see and introduce his/her input into aproduct in order to customize the product.

The user interfaces on the various devices may be provided andcontrolled by one or more of the computing devices 100, 102, 103, 142,144 and/or by the customization server system 106, and data forgenerating, maintaining, and receiving input through the user interfacesmay be generated and provided via computer readable media included aspart of or associated with one or more of the computing devices and/orthe server system 106. Examples of such computer readable media include,but are not limited to: computer-readable memories, both internal to acomputer (e.g., hard drives) or separable from the computer (such asdisks, solid state or flash memory devices, data available over anetworked connection, etc.), including any type of computer readablemedia that is conventionally known and used in the computer arts.

Customizing the product may include printing the customizations selectedby the user onto the product. The customization server 106 may thus becapable of communication with a printer 181 via the network 104. Thecustomization server 106 may transmit a message to the printer 181 thatincludes an electronic file 183 having product manufacturing detailsthat indicate customizations selected for the product. the printer maybe configured to print the customizations selected by the user on theproduct to produce a customized product 185. As noted above, the productmay be, for example, an article of footwear. The printer 183 may thus beconfigured to print customizations on an article of footwear to producea customized article of footwear. Various customizations of the productwill be discussed in further detail below.

Turning briefly to FIG. 1B, customization server 106 may includecomputing unit 101, which may comprise at least one processing unit 105.Processing unit 105 may be any type of processing device for executingsoftware instructions, such as for example, a microprocessor device.Customization server 106 may include a variety of non-transitorycomputer readable media, such as memory 107. Memory 107 may include, butis not limited to, random access memory (RAM) such as RAM 111, and/orread only memory (ROM), such as ROM 109. Memory 107 may include any of:electronically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), flashmemory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD)or other optical disk storage, magnetic storage devices, or any othermedium that can be used to store the desired information and that can beaccessed by customization server 106.

The processing unit 105 and the system memory 107 may be connected,either directly or indirectly, through a bus 113 or alternatecommunication structure to one or more peripheral devices. For example,the processing unit 105 or the system memory 107 may be directly orindirectly connected to additional memory storage, such as a hard diskdrive 117, a removable magnetic disk drive, an optical disk drive 119,and a flash memory card. The processing unit 105 and the system memory107 also may be directly or indirectly connected to one or more inputdevices 121 and one or more output devices 123. The output devices 123may include, for example, a display device, television, printer, stereo,or speakers. The input devices 121 may include, for example, a keyboard,touch screen, a remote control pad, a pointing device (such as a mouse,touchpad, stylus, trackball, or joystick), a scanner, a camera or amicrophone. In this regard, input devices 121 may comprise one or moresensors configured to sense, detect, and/or measure athletic movementfrom a user.

Given this general background and information, more detailed informationregarding specific examples of systems, methods, computer-readablemedia, and user interfaces in accordance with this invention will bedescribed in more detail below. Computer-readable media, as used in thisdescription, refers to all computer-readable media with the soleexception being a transitory propagating signal. It should be understoodthat this more detailed description relates to various specific examplesof the disclosure and their features and functionality, and thisdescription should not be construed as limiting the disclosure.

Various features of product design systems, methods, and user interfaces(e.g., generated by a computing device for accepting user input andproviding a user with information regarding the design) will bedescribed in more detail below. Those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the following description and the attached drawings merelyrepresent examples of potential features, functionality, arrangement ofinterface components, orientation of interface components, combinationsof interface components, and the like, of systems, methods, and userinterfaces in accordance with this invention.

In an aspect of the disclosure, a user may enter a store to purchaseproduct, such as an article of footwear (e.g., a running shoe). The usermay approach a store display which enables a user to select amongphysical products (e.g., running shoes), but also provide the customerwith a mechanism to select among certain, supported products, for thepurposes of customizing or semi-customizing various features of theselected, supported products (e.g., a running shoe). Henceforth, exampleembodiments are described in many cases with respect to shoes, but coverother products.

For instance, FIG. 2 illustrates a store display 200 with a displaydevice 202 embedded within store display 200. Display device 202 may beutilized to show images of products (e.g., shoes) which imaged productsare similar to the products physically displayed in store display 200.Display device 202 may provide a graphical user interface which includesa touch interface for receiving inputs or gestures from a user ofdisplay device 202.

In an aspect of the disclosure, display device 202 may be operated inmany different modes. The modes may be triggered by different actionssuch as proximity to display device 202, voice recognition, touchactivation, etc.

In an aspect of the disclosure, display device 202 may include anillusion screen mode. The illusion screen mode may include coloredimages having shadows, perspectives and other imagery, so as to enabledisplay device 202 to substantially blend with the physical storedisplay 200 (or wall) which borders display device 202. For instance,the illusion screen mode of display device 202 may include shoes andbackground images, in colors, shadows, perspectives and other imagery,so as to enable the display device to substantially blend with thephysical wall and shoes thereon which border the display device. In anaspect of the disclosure, display device 202 in the illusion mode mayshow shadows on the user interface screen to represent shadows cast fromthe physically located shoes located along the display device's upperportion and side portions. Such shadowing displayed on display device202 assists in making display device 202 blend with surrounding storedisplay 200. In an embodiment shown in FIG. 2, shoe images shown ondisplay device 202 may be the same or similar in size to the physicalshoes displayed in store display 200 to further assist in blendingdisplay device 202 with store display 200. In an embodiment, theillusion screen mode may be a default mode until a different mode istriggered and/or activated.

In an aspect of the invention, display device 202 may also have anattraction mode. In the attraction mode, images of products may be shownbeing customized in one or more ways, including via colors, at firstslowly and then more quickly, and so on, ultimately with a splash screento announce the functionality supported by the display. In anembodiment, display device 202 when in the attraction mode may showvarious videos or product materials to attract new users or drawadditional attention to store display 200 and/or to the display device202. Such an attraction feature may be initiated on a predeterminedinterval or based on user proximity to store display 200 and/or to thedisplay device 202.

In another aspect of the invention, display device 202 may also have anapplication mode which may be activated automatically or by a user orsales associate for product customization. In an embodiment, in theapplication mode the user interface screens may use the same background.In another embodiment, the user interface screen in the application modemay use a different background, e.g., a monochrome, graphic-less screen.

In embodiments in which the background image mimics the store display'swall, the background image's graphics may be retained, but become aparticular color, e.g., white, that is selectively distinct from thewall. In other embodiments, the background image's graphics may bechanged, e.g., to become faded, with or without a change in color tofurther contrast and show user changes to the displayed customized orsemi-customized product.

In an aspect of the disclosure, store display 200 illustrates variousshoes (or shoe styles) that may be customized or semi-customized in astore by a user. In an embodiment, a user selects a shoe style forcustomization or semi-customization among the supported shoes. Forinstance, the user may select a particular style of running shoe. Theselection of the shoe style may be made among the supported shoes bytouching a style of shoe shown on the displayed user interface. After auser provides their selected customizations, the selected shoe may becustomized or semi-customized in the backroom of a store while theconsumer waits or continues to shop. While waiting the user may wish tovisit various websites related to the product or a website discussingcustomization of products (i.e., NIKEiD).

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a user interface response that mighttake place as a result of initiation of a product customization systemand method. In this illustrated example, the user interface showsvarious shoes that may be selected by a user for customization orsemi-customization. In an embodiment, upon initiation of productcustomization, the background image of various user interfaces may bechanged i.e. application mode.

In an embodiment, once a shoe style is selected by the user or thesystem, customization or semi-customization of the selected shoe stylemay be initiated by the user. For instance, as shown in FIG. 3, a usermay select among various shoe colorways by applying a swipe gesture(e.g., swiping a finger on, along or otherwise in an association withthe touch interface) horizontally across (i.e., left and/or right) theuser interface 300. In some embodiments, this horizontal swipe gesturemay be initiated by touching and translating that touch starting fromany location of the touch interface; in other embodiments, thishorizontal swipe gesture may be initiated by touching and translatingthat touch starting from and/or in restricted locations, regions,quadrants, or locational constraints associated with the touchinterface. In an illustrative example, as a user moves their fingerhorizontally across user interface 300, different colored shoe images302, 304, and 306 move along a horizontal axis so that a shoe color ofchoice may be selected. The different colored shoes may be arranged in apredetermined color palette such that various shades or variations ineach color may be displayed in a systematic pattern, e.g., so as to makeit easier for a user to visualize the differences in shoe colors.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, three shoe images are shown; in otherembodiments, other numbers of shoe images may be shown at any one time.Those skilled in the art will realize that the number of colored shoesdisplayed in the horizontal axis may be altered based on various factorssuch as display screen size. Shoe images shown at any instant may bemoved aside so as to reveal other shoe images, such function beingprovided by swiping in either/both horizontal directions. Repeatedswiping in any one or the other horizontal direction may exhaust theavailable shoe images; that is, the shoe images may be finite in number(e.g., the number of shoe images may be equal to or less than the numberof commercial colorways offered as to the shoe style being displayed)and these images may be ordered in a logical row having two terminalshoe images, one terminal shoe image on a first end of the row and asecond terminal shoe image on the other end of the row. In someembodiments, if the shoe images are exhausted by repeated swiping in onedirection so as to reach one of the terminal images, the GUI may beconfigured to provide continued swiping in the same direction, so as to(i) reveal shoe images starting with the other terminal shoe andcontinuing revealing through the row of shoe images in the direction ofthe swipe gesture or (ii) to reveal shoe images in the reverse orderthat the images were previously revealed in reaching exhaustion.

In another aspect of the disclosure, as the user moves their fingerhorizontally across user interface 300 in selecting a shoe image,various indicia, pictures, or other symbols 308 may become positioned onthe displayed shoe images. In one example embodiment, the variousindicia, pictures, or other symbols 308 remain stationary in the GUIwhile the shoe images move responsive to and, typically, in thedirection of the applied swipe gesture. The various indicia, pictures,or other symbols 308 may be shown in a consistent neutral color (e.g.,white, grey, etc.) on each shoe image so as not to distract the user inselecting a shoe image, e.g., via the displayed colorways.

In another example, the various indicia, pictures, symbols, or othersymbols 308 may be shown in respective, neutral colors on each displayedshoe image. In yet another example, one or more of the various indicia,pictures, or other symbols 308 may be shown in one or more non-neutralcolors. Illustrations of this lattermost example are provided here, withreference to an example display of three shoe images wherein a singleindicia is shown, which illustrations include the following: (i) a shoeresident in a predetermined position (e.g. centered) among the shoeimages is shown in a non-neutral color of the user's selection, whilethe shoe images flanking that shoe are shown in a consistent, neutralcolor; (ii) a shoe resident in a predetermined position (e.g., centered)among the shoe images is shown in a first non-neutral color of theuser's selection, while the shoe images flanking that shoe in onehorizontal direction are shown in a second non-neutral color whichsecond non-neutral color is a first distinct color of a configured orotherwise predetermined adjacency as to the first non-neutral color andthe shoe images flanking that shoe in the other horizontal direction areshown in a third non-neutral color which third non-neutral color is asecond distinct color of a configured or otherwise predeterminedadjacency as to the first non-neutral color; and (iii) a shoe residentin a predetermined position among the shoe images is shown in a firstnon-neutral color of the user's selection, while the shoe imagesflanking that shoe in one horizontal direction are shown in a first setof non-neutral colors which first set comprises a first group of colorsof a configured or otherwise predetermined adjacency as to the firstnon-neutral color and the shoe images flanking that shoe in the otherhorizontal direction are shown in a second set of non-neutral colorswhich colors comprise a second group of colors of a configured orotherwise predetermined adjacency as to the first non-neutral color.

In another embodiment, applying a tap gesture on (or within a configuredor otherwise predetermined adjacency of) any shoe image not centered inthe user interface may place the selected shoe image in the center ofthe user interface 300. That selected shoe image may be so placed, in anexample, via the row of shoe images scrolling in one or the otherhorizontal direction, the scrolling ending (e.g., stopping abruptly, orslowing down until coming to a smooth stop) with the image placed in thecenter. That selected shoe image may be so placed, in another example,via the shoe images being re-registered, instantly or substantiallyinstantly, so that the order of the images of the row is retained andthe selected shoe image is placed in the center. That selected shoeimage may be so placed via other mechanisms. In one or more of theseexamples, the selected shoe image is so centered, e.g., for furtherconsideration or additional customizations by the user.

In another aspect of the disclosure, various indicia, pictures, symbols,or other graphics may be printed or otherwise provided on the shoe mayalso be displayed for selection. For instance, as shown in FIG. 3, auser may select a particular picture, indicia, or graphic represented bycamera 308 shown on each of the colored shoe images 302, 304, and 306.Once the particular picture, indicia, symbol, or graphic has beenchosen, various colors of the selected picture, indicia, symbol, orgraphic may also be displayed on a vertical axis of user interface 300for consideration and selection by the user.

As shown in FIG. 3, graphics 310, 312, 314, 308, 316, 318, and 320 maybe displayed on a vertical axis. A user may select among these graphicsby applying a swipe gesture (e.g., swiping a finger on, along orotherwise in an association with the touch interface) vertically across(i.e., up and/or down) the user interface 300. In some embodiments, thisvertical swipe gesture may be initiated by touching and translating thattouch starting from any location of the touch interface; in otherembodiments, this horizontal swipe gesture may be initiated by touchingand translating that touch starting from and/or in restricted locations,regions, quadrants, or locational constraints associated with the touchinterface. As a user moves their finger vertically across the userinterface 300, the different colored graphics 310, 312, 314, 308, 316,318, and 320 move along the vertical axis so that a color graphic ofchoice may be selected.

In an example embodiment, the graphic of choice is selected by beingplaced at the center of the user interface. Being placed at the centerof the user interface may implicate, in some embodiments, being placedin association with a selected shoe image, which selected shoe image isselected by being placed at the center of the user interface. In otherembodiments, the selected graphic and shoe images may be placed inassociation with one another, at a position of the user interface otherthan the center. The graphics may be arranged in a predetermined colorpalette such that various shades or variations of each color may bedisplayed in a systematic way, e.g., so as to make it easier for a userto visualize the differences in the displayed colored graphics.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, seven graphics 310, 312, 314, 308, 316,318, 320 are shown, which number includes the selected graphic 308 and,although not shown, each such graphic may be distinct from the others(e.g., based on color, pattern, shape, or other characteristic(s),including any combination); in other embodiments, other numbers ofgraphics may be shown at any one time. Those skilled in the art willrealize that the number of graphics displayed in the vertical axis maybe altered based on various factors, such as display screen size.Graphics shown at any instant may be moved so as to reveal othergraphics, such function being provided by swiping in either/bothvertical directions. Repeated swiping in any one or the other verticaldirection may exhaust the available graphics. As an example, thegraphics may be provided in a finite number of options (e.g., colors)and these graphics may be ordered in a logical column, the column havingtwo terminal graphics, one terminal graphics at the top of the columnand a second terminal graphics at the bottom of the column. In someembodiments, if the graphics are exhausted by repeated swiping in onedirection so as to reach one of the terminal graphics, the GUI may beconfigured to provide continued swiping in the same direction, so as to(i) to reveal graphics starting with the other terminal graphics andcontinuing revealing through the column in the direction of the swipegesture or (ii) to reveal graphics in the reverse order that the imageswere previously revealed in reaching exhaustion.

In example embodiments providing for the graphics to be moved in theuser interface responsive to vertical swipe gestures, the graphics mayor may not overlay a product image (e.g., the shoe image) as thegraphics are moved up and/or down along the vertical axis. In someexample embodiments implementing overlay, each of the graphics is movedto traverse a product image while maintaining the graphics over, infront of or otherwise visible with respect to the product imagethroughout the respective traverse (i.e., including, but not limited to,filling its proper position in the product image).

In other example embodiments implementing overlay, each of the graphicstraversing the product image is transitioned to fill its proper positionin the product image, either immediately upon any intersection with anyportion of the shoe image or upon having achieved a configured orotherwise predetermined extend of overlay with the shoe image. Inexample embodiments that do not implement overlay, each of the graphicsis moved so as to traverse a product image with the product imageremaining over, in front of or otherwise visible with respect to eachsuch graphics throughout its respective traverse. In such examplesabsent overly, each of the graphics may partially or fully disappearbehind a product image until the respective graphic is shown in thegraphic's proper position on the product. In some of these examplesabsent overlay, when it is determined that the graphic has traversedsuch that it would be shown (in whole or in part) as to its properposition of the product (such as at the origin 420 of FIG. 4), then therespective graphic is displayed fully in that position on the product.In others of these examples absent overlay, the graphic may be shownfully in its position as soon as a configured or otherwise predeterminedportion of the graphic has disappeared behind the product image. Instill others of these examples absent overlay, the graphic may be shownprogressively in its proper position, e.g., in synchrony with thetraversal of the product image. In still others of these examples absentoverlay, this feature may be implemented otherwise toward ensuring that,as the graphics are being moved up and down vertically, the graphics donot obscure at all, or do not obscure beyond a configured or otherwisepredetermined degree, the product image, e.g., in that the graphics aredisplayed when and/or to the extent aligned or otherwise associated in aselected manner with the graphic's proper position on the product image.

In another embodiment, applying a tap gesture on (or within a configuredor otherwise predetermined adjacency of) any graphic not centered in theuser interface may place the selected graphic on the centered shoe image(located at the origin 420) in the center of user interface 300, e.g.,for further consideration or additional customizations by the user.

In another aspect of the disclosure, the horizontal indicia shown inFIG. 3 may be fixed while the vertical indicia may be color swatches,for which the color swatches “fill” the fixed indicia. As anotheralternative, the horizontal indicia may include a “customization area”(like a “green screen’ but made of the material that enables the instantcustomization), with the vertical indicia being any variety of shapes,colors, patterns, etc. among which the user selects for realizationwithin that customization area (but not necessarily fully “filling” thatarea).

FIG. 4 illustrates a user interface 400 which may be used in accordancewith various embodiments of the disclosure. In FIG. 4, a user may selectamong colors for a footwear manufacturer's logo which may be placed onthe selected colored shoe image, such shoe image being selected amongvarious colorways for such shoe. In an example embodiment, themanufacture's logo may be the Nike® SWOOSH® as shown in FIG. 4. Asillustrated in FIG. 4, a SWOOSH® may be shown in different colors suchas SWOOSH® 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 412, 414, and 416. SWOOSH® 402, 404,406, 408, 410, 412, 414, and 416 may be displayed on a vertical axis. Auser may select a SWOOSH® having a different color by swiping verticallyacross user interface 400. As a user so swipes (i.e., by moving theirfinger vertically up and down user interface 400), the display moveseach different colored SWOOSH® 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 412, 414, and416 along the vertical axis so that a colored SWOOSH® may be selected,such selection being effected by the so selected SWOOSH® occupying thecenter of user interface 400. In some example embodiments, occupying thecenter of the user interface is shown by the selected SWOOSH® beingplaced in its proper position on the shoe being customized. In anembodiment, the speed of the user's swipe gesture may determine thespeed at which SWOOSH® 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 412, 414, and 416 areadvanced along the vertical axis.

In some embodiments, the GUI may support one or more persistencecharacteristics as to the swipe gesture; that is, the SWOOSH® 402, 404,406, 408, 410, 412, 414, and 416 may be continue to be advanced alongthe vertical axis after the swipe gesture has been completed (i.e.,after the user ceases to swipe a finger on, along or otherwise in anassociation with the touch interface). As examples: (i) the persistencemay be a function of the speed at disassociation, (ii) the persistencemay be a function of acceleration/deceleration at disassociation (e.g.,if disassociation is marked by an acceleration, the persistence may becharacterized by the SWOOSH® advancing with that acceleration for ashort, predetermined period and thereafter slowing based on equaldeceleration to a stop), and/or (iii) the persistence may be a functionof the swipe direction, shape or termination form, at or adjacent thedisassociation (e.g., a horizontal swipe terminated with uplift may beassociated with a selected persistence characteristic). In someembodiments, persistence will decay so that the advancement comes to asmooth stop, whereat some SWOOSH® occupies the center of the userinterface.

In an embodiment, a white SWOOSH® may be placed on other shoe imagesshown in user interface 400 which are not being customized, e.g., so asnot to distract from the product being customized or semi-customized andlocated at origin 420.

The different colored SWOOSH® 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 412, 414, and 416may be arranged in a predetermined color palette such that variousshades or variations for each color may be displayed in a systematic wayto make it easier for a user to visualize the differences in the showncolored SWOOSH®. Those skilled in the art will realize that the numberof colored graphics displayed in the vertical axis may be altered basedon the various factors such as display screen size and size of theSWOOSH®. As an example, a greater number of SWOOSH® may be shown than inthe example of FIG. 4 by reducing the size of the SWOOSH® above andbelow the origin 420, while maintaining the proper size and position ofthe SWOOSH® with respect to the shoe image at the origin 420.

In an aspect of the disclosure, a user may select a different coloredSWOOSH® by swiping their finger vertically up and down user interface400. As a user moves their finger vertically up and down user interface400, the display moves the different colored SWOOSH® along the verticalaxis. In an embodiment, a colored SWOOSH® does not overlay the productas it is being moved up and down along the vertical axis. Instead eachcolored SWOOSH® may be positioned behind the product of interest (or notdisplayed) unit the colored SWOOSH® would be shown in the properposition on the product. When it is determined that the colored SWOOSH®would be shown in the proper position on the product (such as at theorigin 420) then the colored SWOOSH® is displayed in that properposition. This feature may ensure that, as a SWOOSH® is being moved upand down vertically, it does not obscure the shoe, e.g., in that it mayonly be displayed when it is in the proper position on the product.

In another embodiment, tapping on any colored SWOOSH® not centered inuser interface 400 may place the selected SWOOSH® on the centered shoe(located at the origin 420) in the center of user interface screen 400,e.g., for further consideration or additional customizations by theuser.

In another aspect of the disclosure, a shoe lace color for thecustomized shoe may be automatically selected to match the selectedSWOOSH® (e.g., by color of the SWOOSH®), unless further customized bythe user.

FIG. 5 illustrates a user interface 500 which displays a coordinatesystem having an x-axis and a y-axis in accordance with various aspectsof the disclosure. As shown in user interface 500, origin 502 of thecoordinate system may be located at the center of the displayed product506. The origin 502 may also mark a center of any selected displayedgraphic. The coordinate system may also include a z-axis for display ofa product in a three- or multi-dimensional layout. The three- ormulti-dimensional layout may be realized via a conventional displaydevice 202 (e.g., having a display 136 implemented with conventionalLCD, Plasma, OLED or other technologies, but without 3D feature), e.g.,by using well known imaging techniques for providing the illusion ofdimensionality, e.g., populating along the z-axis a selection ofelements (e.g., alternative shoe styles) in progressively smaller sizes,progressively less crisp imaging, etc., so that these elements appear tofade into the distance toward a horizon. As an alternative, the three-or multi-dimensional layout may be realized via a 3-D display, including3-D televisions and other more sophisticated technologies that enable athree dimensional showing of the product (e.g., a shoe) forcustomization or semi-customization.

Together or separately from any example embodiment as to a display 136,the display device 202 may provide a graphical user interface whichincludes an input interface (e.g., rather than the touch interfacedescribed above) for receiving inputs or gestures from a user of displaydevice 202 either (i) absent touch or (ii) via any combination of touchwith one or more of sound, image capture etc. As an example, an inputinterface may employ a combination of sensors, such as a microphone,camera and depth sensor, so as to enable a natural user interface builton spoken commands and/or movement gestures (i.e., movement gesturesdetected via the depth sensor's skeletal tracking and associatedprocessing). One implementation of such an input interface may compriseMicrosoft's Kinec™ for Windows® sensor unit and SDK. In an embodimentemploying an input interface directed to movement gestures and/or spokencommend (e.g., with or without enabling touch-based gestures), thegestures (e.g., swipes and tap gestures) are understood to be translatedto spoken or movement gestures of the same import. For example, aleftward horizontal swipe gesture may be spoken as “swipe left” and/orrepresented by a hand/arm movement directly horizontally across one'sbody, while a tap gesture respecting a shoes of a blue colorway may bespoken as “select blue shoe” and/or represented by pointing the hand/armso as to trigger a cursor to appear positioned over such shoe and thenmaintaining that position for a configured or otherwise predeterminedtime period, or by speaking “select shoe” during that positioning.

In an embodiment, other customizations or the above discussedcustomizations may be made to a product along the z-axis. For example,lace colors and/or patterns may be provided along a z-axis. In thisexample, swiping/tapping gestures may be implemented, including, in oneexample, as disclosed as to graphics (i.e., the vertical axis).Moreover, one or more of the features and functionality disclosed abovemay be implemented with respect to the lace colors and/or patterns ofthe z-axis. As other examples, the z-axis may accommodate customizationor semi-customization (e.g., in accordance with the disclosures hereof)as to various elements associated with the product. To illustrate, inthe case where the product is a shoe, any of the following elements maybe so accommodated: the upper; the lining; closures (other than laceswhich are already described above); lace loops or other similarcomponents, e.g., for closures other than laces; the midsole; the airbagor other (exposed) cushioning mechanism; the outsole; and/or anyembossing, engraving, embroidering, plating or other form of personalidentification. In some example embodiments, the product, graphics,laces, and some selected other elements (e.g., for shoes, the elementsas set forth above) may be accommodated along selected x, y, and z axes,together with selected vectors formed among 2 or more of such axes.Furthermore, the discussed features (i.e., product on the x-axis,graphics on the y-axis, and laces or others on the z-axis) may belocated on different axes and are not limited to the particular axis inwhich they are illustrated in the present disclosure. Moreover, theorigin may be moved to any position within a user interface and is soenvisioned by this disclosure.

In another aspect of the disclosure, a user may diagonally swipe a userinterface screen to simultaneously swipe two or more selected elements.In an example embodiment, the diagonal swipe is configured tosimultaneously swipe both the product images (e.g., by colorway) of thehorizontal axis and the graphics displayed on the vertical axis. Such adiagonal swipe may begin from a top right corner of a user interfacescreen to a lower bottom corner of a user interface screen. Such adiagonal swipe (a randomization swipe) may act similar to a randomnumber generator or slot machine such that a random new combination of acolored product with a displayed color graphic may be shown to the userfor consideration. In an embodiment, such a diagonal swipe may be afeature limited to a particular quadrant of the user interface such asthe second quadrant 504 of user interface 500. In another embodiment, adiagonal swipe may function in all quadrants of the user interface.

In other example embodiments, including embodiments accommodating athree- or multi-dimensional user interface and associated customizableor semi-customizable elements; one or more diagonal swipe gestures mayor may not be supported if directed to plural elements. In someembodiments, such swipes may be negated (e.g., to avoid confusion withswipes associated with an axis or vector). In still other exampleembodiments, including embodiments accommodating a three- ormulti-dimensional user interface and associated customizable orsemi-customizable elements, one more diagonal swipe gestures may besupported, such as by providing one or more feature(s) to thedistinguish between a diagonal swipe directed to one element (i.e., ofan axis or vector) and a diagonal swipe directed to combined elements(e.g., one finger swipes implicate a particular axis or vector, twofinger swipes implicate two axes/vectors, three finger swipes implicatethree axes/vectors, etc.).

In another aspect of the disclosure, additional customization orsemi-customization of a product such as shoe lace color may also beselected by a user. In FIG. 4, upon user selection of an “Extras”feature 428 as shown on user interface 400, a user interface 600 may bepresented to a user as shown in FIG. 6. Upon selection of the “Laces”feature shown in FIG. 6, a lace selection user interface screen 700 maybe presented to the user as shown in FIG. 7.

In an aspect of the disclosure, user interface 700 may include a coloredlace selection pallet 704 which may extend downward from the top of userinterface 700. The lace selection color pallet 704 may be orientatedfrom left to right of user interface 700 with all or selected potentiallace color options displayed for user selection. A user may touch aparticular lace color such as a yellow lace 706 which extends that lace(yellow lace 706) toward the displayed shoe indicating a selection ofthat particular lace color for further consideration. Upon selection oflace color, user interface 700 may be updated with the selected lacecolor displayed on the shown shoe. Such a representation enables a userto consider their customizations of lace color along with their selectedshoe color and graphic selections.

In an embodiment, a user may select a different colored lace by touchinguser interface 700 with their finger and swiping their fingerhorizontally across user interface 700. As a user moves their fingerhorizontally across user interface 700, the display moves the differentcolored laces from a retracted position to a downwardly extendedposition to highlight the currently selected colored lace. In an exampleembodiment, along with a selected lace, neighboring laces that are closein color to the selected lace may also be slightly extended to highlightdifferent color variations of the selected lace which may be of interestto the user. In an example embodiment, along with a highlightingselected lace, the laces of the shoe image display the color of thatselected lace.

In an embodiment, the different colored laces may be arranged in apredetermined color palette such that various shades or variations ofeach color may be displayed in a systematic way to make it easier for auser to visualize the differences in the displayed colored laces. Thoseskilled in the art will realize that number of colored laces displayedin the horizontal axis may be altered based on the various factors suchas display screen size. Those skilled in the art will realize that theset of selected laces may be changed, e.g., to switch to among supportedcolor group, e.g., from electric to pastel to any other color. Thoseskilled in the art will also realize that the displayed laces may alsobe shown in the vertical axis, to encircle the shoe image in FIG. 7, orin other orientations all of which are within the scope of thisdisclosure.

In another aspect of the disclosure, additional customization orsemi-customization of a product such as a graphic pattern selection mayalso be selected by a user. In FIG. 4, upon user selection of an“Extras” feature 428 as shown on user interface 400, a user interface600 may be presented to a user as shown in FIG. 6. Upon selection of the“Graphics” feature shown in FIG. 6, a graphics selection user interfacescreen 800 may be presented to the user as shown in FIG. 8.

In an aspect of the disclosure, user interface 800 may include a graphicselection interface which may allow a user to place a pattern or applyanother customization to the selected graphic or indicia discussedabove.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, a pattern selection tool may be displayedalong a horizontal axis from left to right. A user may touch aparticular pattern such as pattern 804 which places that pattern on thepicture or indicia located on the shoe. Such a representation enables auser to consider their customizations of the picture or indicia alongwith their other customizations.

In an embodiment, a user may select a different pattern from a pluralityof patterns such as patterns 804, 806, 808, and 810. The selection of apattern or no pattern 802 may be made by a user with a touch of theirfinger or by swiping their finger horizontally across user interface800. As a user moves their finger horizontally across user interface800, the display places the selected pattern on the indicia forconsideration. In an embodiment, the indicia may be a manufacture's logosuch as the Nike® SWOOSH®. As shown in FIG. 8, the SWOOSH® may beenlarged so that various patterns selections that are applied may beeasily viewed. In an embodiment, a zoom-in/zoom-out feature may be alsoincorporated to study the applied pattern selection or other customizedfeature to ensure the customization is acceptable to the user.

Those skilled in the art will realize that number of graphic patternsdisplayed in the horizontal axis may be altered based on the variousfactors such as display screen size. Those skilled in the art will alsorealize that the displayed graphic patterns may also be shown in thevertical axis or in other orientations all of which are within the scopeof this disclosure.

Upon selection of a pattern or no pattern, a user may review the entireshoe customization and make any further changes to the customization asdesired. The user upon final acceptance of the customized orsemi-customized shoe may be prompted to provide some additional productdescription information.

For instance, user interface 900 may request that the user identifywhether the customized or semi-customized shoe is a “men's” shoe or a“women's” shoe. Upon input as to men's/women's shoe, a user interfacemay request that the user supply the shoe size. A user interface such asuser interface 1000 of FIG. 10 may be displayed to the user to showavailable shoe sizes for the customized or semi-customized shoe. Theuser may select the desired shoe size through user interface 1000.

Upon entry of the shoe size, the user interface may request that theuser supply a name to be placed on the order. The user may, through userinterface 1100 of FIG. 11, enter a name for the order. In addition, insome embodiments, the user may be requested to supply an email addressor phone number so that the user may be contacted once the shoe has beenmanufactured. In some embodiments, the user may be requested to supply adelivery address (such as a street address, a P.O. address etc.), e.g.,in the event that the shoe will be manufactured outside the local storeand mailed or otherwise delivered to the user. In response to the userrequested information, a user interface such as user interface 1200 ofFIG. 12 may be displayed to thank the user and provide information tothe user. Such information may include information such as a storeassociate (e.g., a “Nike Athlete”) may be sent over to the customer inorder to verify and complete the order.

In an embodiment, the store associate may assist the user in ensuringthat the customized or semi-customized order is complete and that thecorrect shoe size has been entered. Upon order verification, the storeassociate may request payment from the user. The transaction may becompleted via a wirelessly handheld device as shown in FIGS. 13-14. Inother embodiments, the transaction may be completed through a storeregister or through other ordering payment and processing equipment

Upon order completion, an electronic shoe customization file may begenerated and transmitted to a backroom or other location associatedwith the store, for local manufacturing of the shoe, e.g., as the usercontinues to shop or otherwise on an “while-you-wait” basis. Upon suchmanufacturing's completion of the customized product, the user may benotified that their order is ready for pick-up. In other examples, theelectronic shoe customization file may be generated and transmitted to aremote site, for custom manufacturing for, and direct delivery to, thecustomer. In some examples, if the order is placed by a certain time onone day, the manufacture may be completed overnight or otherwiserelatively rapidly, such that delivery may be to the user's home orother user-designated delivery location (including the store at whichthe user developed the customization), e.g., on a next day, two day orother similar basis.

In the aspect of the disclosure, the customization server and displaydevice 202 may be may be used to compare and contrast multiple shoessimultaneously.

In an aspect of the disclosure, initiation of a customization sessionmay result in generation of a customization identification number (e.g.,a unique “customization ID”) by a customization server or othercomputing device that may be in control of the session and the transferof data relating to the session. In an embodiment, an OrderAcknowledgement Receipt (OA) may be used to capture a bar code for thelace, shoe, and SWOOSH®, for later scanning.

In an aspect of the disclosure, at a step 1502 a customization servermay transmit and display products that may be customized by a user. Instep 1504, at least one customization may be received from a user tocustomize a product through a touch interface having selectablecustomizations on both an x-axis and a y-axis. In a step 506, acustomized product may be displayed to a user for review of furthercustomization. Upon approval, an electronic file with productmanufacturing details including customizations may be generated at astep 1508. Based on the generated electronic file, the customizedproduct may be manufactured at an on-site location. In step 1512, amessage may be transmitted to a user providing information such as thecustomized product is ready for pickup at the retail site.

In another aspect of the disclosure, the above described user interfacescreens may include one or more controls for changing the appearance orview of the product in portion (such as rotation controls, zoom-in,zoom-out, change in views shown, etc.), an “undo” control (to eliminatethe last action), a “redo” control (to re-do a previously erasedaction), a cost information panel, and a product design informationpanel.

Other features and functionality may also be provided in thecustomization interface, if desired, without departing from thisdisclosure. The following features and functionality may be provided insome manner via the interface: the ability to directly return to apreviously customized product, the ability to save the design, theability to print the design, the ability to store this design at alocation for sharing with others (which may launch an interface thatallows one to identify specific persons, classes of persons, or groups(public or private) with whom the design may be shared), the ability to“return to the default” design (e.g., to the blank product on which thecustomization process was initiated for this product), and the abilityto exit or quit the session.

As an additional potential feature, systems, methods, and computerinterfaces in accordance with at least some examples of this inventionmay allow the user to get help during the design or customizationprocess. Such assistance may be from a store associate or via computergenerated “on-line help.” While any desired information may be providedin response to user interaction with this portion of the interface, insome examples, the systems, methods, and computer interfaces may displayto the user information such as: a display of one or more other userdesigns of the same product (or a selected portion of the product); adisplay of one or more other user designs of a product (or a selectedportion of a product) having the same or similar uses, characteristics,or functions; a display of one or more other user designs by users withsimilar tastes or interests as the user (e.g., same favorite sportsteam, same favorite recreational activities, etc.); a display of one ormore other user designs by users from the same geographical region asthe user; a display of one or more other user designs by users from thesame age group as the user; a display of one or more other user designsby users from the same profession as the user; a display of one or moreother user designs by users who otherwise share the user's demographic;a display of one or more other user designs by user's who are within oneor more of the user's relevant social graph network (e.g., Nike+);suggestions for different colors or color combinations that might matchwell with existing portions of the design (e.g., complementary colors);information regarding popular colors or color combinations for one ormore portions of the design (e.g., from previously designed products orinventory); and/or any other desired information (including informationrelating to the specific product or product line or other interestingdesigns or inspiring information). This interface also may includefunctionality to allow the user to immediately purchase the customizedshoe at any time during the design process.

Changes to various selected portions of the shoe design may be made inany desired manner without departing from this invention. For example, auser might first use an input device to select some specific part of theshoe (e.g., the heel reinforcement part, a visible portion of themidsole, a portion of the outsole, the tongue, eyelets, toe cap, treadelements, etc.). Once selected, the user can make changes to thatelement.

Various additional potential features and functionality may be includedin systems, methods, and user interfaces in accordance with at leastsome examples of this invention. For example, a personalized message maybe placed on the lateral side of the shoe in lieu of the usual locationof the manufacturer's logo. If desired, systems, methods, and userinterfaces in accordance with examples of this invention also may allowthe user to drag the message around (e.g., using the pointer device) toaid in positioning or orienting the message with respect to the shoestructure. The personalized message may be applied to any desiredportion of the shoe structure being designed, such as the upper, themidsole, the outsole, the interior bootie, the tongue element (top sideor underside), etc., and even to multiple parts of the shoe, if desired.

In another aspect of the disclosure, the entity or store locationmaintaining the custom design may store the customization for the userfor future use such as a secondary purchase of the shoe design at afuture date and time. The entity maintaining the custom design mayrequire that users register for this privilege by providing personalinformation such as name, geographic address, email address, and thelike.

Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the systems,methods, and/or computer interface features described above inconjunction with design and/or shopping for articles of footwear alsomay be used and/or practiced in conjunction with design of otherproducts, such as apparel (including athletic apparel, uniforms, etc.)and athletic equipment (such as balls, bats, gloves, bags, protectiveequipment, team gear, pads, hockey sticks, watches, socks, etc.).

FIG. 16 illustrates exemplary print boundaries 602 and 604 within whichcustomizations may be applied to an exemplary article of footwear 600.Print boundary 602 may correspond to an “inner” print boundary defininga target area 606 for printing customizations on the article of footwear600. Print boundary 604 may correspond to an “outer” print boundarydefining another target area 608 for printing customizations on thearticle of footwear 600. The target area 606 may be enclosed by the“inner” print boundary 602 and be better suited for receiving relativelysmaller fonts (e.g., 6 point fonts) and relatively detailed graphics.The target area 608 may be positioned between the “inner” print boundary602 and the “outer” print boundary 604. The target area 608 may bebetter suited for receiving solid colors and gradients.

Customizations may be printed on various customization zones of thearticle of footwear 600, e.g., the lateral quarter, the medial quarter,the heel, the tongue, the lateral midsole, the medial midsole, thelateral airbag, the medial airbag, and other zones of the article offootwear that will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Thearticle of footwear 600 may also include a “flex” zone 610 near thefront of the shoe where the forefoot of a user would be positioned whenthe article of footwear is worn by the user. When printingcustomizations in the “flex” zone 610, a printer may employ a relativelylower ink density relative to other zones of the article of footwear.For example, the printer may employ CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, andblack) printing techniques to print the customizations on the article offootwear. The ink density may thus be expressed as a total percentage ofthe CMYK ink channels used to print the customization. It will berecognized that the maximum total ink density for CMYK printing is400%-100% for each of the four CMYK ink channels. The total ink densityfor printing customizations in the “flex” zone 610 may be, for example,around 220%.

FIGS. 17-21 illustrate other user selection interface screens inaccordance with various aspects of the disclosure. As described above,customizations may include, e.g., a base color for the product; one ormore accent colors for the product; a graphic printed on the product;and text printed on the product. Customizations may also include a fillcolor for the text or graphic and a fill pattern for the text orgraphic. Graphics may include shapes, logos, badges, icons, symbols, andso forth. Combinations of customizations may also be selected for theproduct, e.g., combinations of multiple colors, combinations of multiplegraphics, combinations of text and graphics, and so forth. Moreover, thesize, orientation, and location of the text and graphics on the productmay be adjusted. For text data, various fonts may be selected. As anexample, a team may customize the footwear of the players on the team toinclude the team colors and a team logo. The footwear for individualplayers may be further customized to include, e.g., the name of theplayer, the nickname of the player, and the player number.

FIG. 17 illustrates a user selection interface screen 1700 forcustomizing an article of footwear with a combination of a graphic andtext data. In FIG. 17, the graphic is a badge that incorporates textdata provided by the user, e.g., the last name and player number of theuser. The user selection interface screen 1700 presents a set ofcustomizations for the graphic and text data on a vertically scrollableaxis 1704. In FIG. 17, the set of customizations is a set of colors1706, 1708, 1710, 1712, and 1714 for the graphic and text data. Thescrollable axis 1704 may be positioned such that the scrollable axispasses through the center 1716 of the rendering of the article offootwear. The user may vertically swipe along the axis 1704 to scrollthrough the set of colors available for the graphic and text data. Therendering of the article of footwear is updated as the user scrollsthrough the set of colors on the axis 1704 in order to display thecurrently selected color for the graphic and text data on the renderingof the article of footwear. The user selection interface screen 1700 mayalso include an interface element 1718 for adjusting the size of thegraphic and text data relative to the article of footwear. The renderingof the article of footwear may thus also be updated when an adjustmentof the size of the graphic and text data is received. Other interfaceelements may be employed to adjust, e.g., an orientation of the graphicand text data relative to the article of footwear. The scrollable axis1704 may also be oriented at any angle between 0° and 180° relative to acenterline of the user selection interface screen, e.g., such that thescrollable axis is vertically, horizontally, or diagonally scrollable.

FIG. 18 illustrates a user selection interface screen 1800 forcustomizing an article of footwear with another combination of a graphicand text data. In FIG. 18, the graphic is a shape having a textured edgeon which the text data is overlaid. The user selection interface 1800presents multiple sets of customizations for the graphic and text dataat respective scrollable axes 1802 and 1804. The scrollable axis 1802 isa vertically scrollable axis, and the scrollable axis 1804 is ahorizontally scrollable axis. The set of customizations presented on thevertically scrollable axis 1802 is a set of colors 1806, 1808, 1810,1812, and 1814 for the graphic. The set of customizations presented onthe horizontally scrollable axis 1804 is a set of colors 1816, 1818,1820, 1822, and 1824 for the text data. In FIG. 18, the verticallyscrollable axis 1802 and the horizontally scrollable axis 1804intersect, and the rendering of the article of footwear is positionedsuch that the center 1826 of the rendering of the article of footwear ispositioned at the intersection of the scrollable axes. The user mayvertically swipe the vertical axis 1802 to scroll through the colorsavailable for the graphic and horizontally swipe the horizontal axis1804 to scroll through the colors available for the text data. Therendering of the article of footwear is updated as the user scrollsthrough the sets of colors on the axes 1802 and 1804 in order to displaythe currently selected color combination for the graphic and text dataon the article of footwear. The scrollable axes 1802 and 1804 may alsobe oriented such that the sum of a pair of opposite angles formed by theintersection of the axes is between 0° and 180° and at least one of theaxes is diagonally scrollable.

FIG. 19 illustrates a user selection interface screen 1900 forcustomizing an article of footwear with a combination of graphics. InFIG. 19, each graphic is a shape having a textured edge each of which isapplied to a respective portion of the article of footwear, e.g. an areanear the front of the midfoot region and an area near the rear of themidfoot region. The user interface selection screen 1900 presentsmultiple sets of customizations for the graphics at respectivescrollable axes 1902 and 1904. In FIG. 19, each scrollable axis 1902 and1904 is a vertically scrollable axis that each present a respective setof customizations for the graphics. The set of customizations presentedon the vertically scrollable axis 1902 is a set of colors 1906, 1908,1910, 1912, and 1914 for the graphic positioned near the rear of themidfoot region. The set of customizations presented on the verticallyscrollable axis 1904 is also a set of colors 1916, 1918, 1920, 1922, and1924 for the graphic positioned near the front of the midfoot region.The rending of the article of footwear is updated as the user scrollsthrough the sets of colors on the axes 1902 and 1904 in order to displaythe currently selected color combination for the graphics. In FIG. 19,the vertically scrollable axes 1902 and 1904 are parallel with eachother, and the center 1926 of the rendering of the article of footwearis positioned between the vertically scrollable axes. The parallel axes1902 and 1904 may also be oriented at any angle between 0° and 180°relative to a centerline of the user selection interface screen, e.g.,such that the scrollable parallel axes are vertically, horizontally, ordiagonally scrollable.

FIG. 20 illustrates another a user selection interface screen 1900 forcustomizing an article of footwear with a combination of graphics. InFIG. 19, each graphic is again a shape having a textured edge each ofwhich is applied to a respective portion of the article of footwear,e.g., an area near the front of the midfoot region and an area near therear of the midfoot region. The user interface selection screen 2000again presents multiple sets of customizations for the graphics atrespective scrollable axes 2002 and 2004. In FIG. 19, the scrollableaxes 2002 and 2004 are again vertically scrollable and parallel with thecenter 2026 of the rendering of the article of footwear positionedbetween the axes. Each scrollable axis 2002 and 2004 present arespective set of customizations for the graphics. The set ofcustomizations presented on the vertically scrollable axis 2002 is a setof colors 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2014 for the graphic positionednear the rear of the midfoot region. The set of customizations presentedon the vertically scrollable axis 2004 is a set of fill patterns for thegraphic positioned near the front of the midfoot region. Fill patternsmay include, e.g., a solid fill pattern, a “zebra” fill pattern, a“reptile” fill pattern, a “leopard” fill pattern, and so forth. Othertypes of fill patterns may be selectively employed.

FIG. 21 illustrates a user selection interface screen 2100 forcustomizing an article of footwear with a graphic. In FIG. 18, thegraphic is a “winged” badge positioned on a midfoot region of thearticle of footwear. The user selection interface presents multiple setsof customizations for the graphic at respective scrollable axes 2102 and2104. The scrollable axis 2102 is a horizontally scrollable axis, andthe scrollable axis 2104 is a vertically scrollable axis. the set ofcustomizations presented on the horizontally scrollable axis 2102 is aset of badge styles for the “winged” badge. The set of customizationspresented on the vertically scrollable axis 2104 is a set of colors2112, 2114, 2116, 2118, and 2120 for the currently selected badge style.In FIG. 21, the horizontally scrollable axis 2102 and the verticallyscrollable axis 2104 intersect with the center 2122 of the rendering ofthe article of footwear positioned at the intersection of the scrollableaxes. The user may horizontally swipe the horizontal axis 2102 to scrollthrough the different badge styles available for the “winged” badge. Theuser may vertically swipe the vertical axis 2104 to scroll through thecolors available for the currently selected “winged” badge style. Therendering of the article of footwear is updated as the user scrollsthrough the set of badge styles and set of colors on the respective axes2102 and 2104 in order to display the currently selected badge style andcolor combination on the rendering of the article of footwear. Thescrollable axes 2102 and 2104 may also be positioned such that at leastone of the axes is diagonally scrollable.

FIG. 22 illustrates a representation of exemplary manufacturinginformation 2200 corresponding to exemplary customizations selected by auser for an article of footwear. The manufacturing information 2200 mayinclude information from various templates corresponding to the productand the customizations selected by the user. The various templates mayinclude, for example, a base template 2202 for the product, one or morecustomization templates 2204 for customizations selected by the user andtext received from the user during customization of the product, and oneor more fill templates 2206 for fill patterns selected by the userduring customization of the product. The base template 2202 may includeinformation (e.g., coordinates) defining an outline of the product aswell as one or more regions of the product available to receivecustomizations. The customization templates 2204 may include information(e.g., coordinates) defining an outline for a graphic selected by theuser or text provided by the user. The information of a customizationtemplate 2204 may depend and be based on a size and an orientation ofthe customization specified by the user during customization of theproduct. The manufacturing information 2200 may also include information(e.g., coordinates) indicating a location on the product (e.g., anorigin location) at which to apply a customization. The fill patterntemplates 2206 may include information (e.g., coordinates) that definethe fill pattern. The manufacturing information may also includeinformation that associates a customization template 2204 with a fillpattern template 2206 corresponding to the fill pattern selected for thecustomization. The manufacturing information may also includeinformation (e.g., a CMYK value) that indicates a color selected for afill pattern of a customization. Additional and alternative types ofmanufacturing information that may be included in the electronic filewill be appreciated with the benefit of this disclosure.

As described above a product may be customized at the same site at whichthe customer selects customizations for the product. As an example, acustomer may customize an article of footwear at a shoe store, and aprinter located at the shoe store may print the selected customizationsof the article of footwear while the customer waits at the store.Alternatively, the printer may be located remotely relative to thedisplay device, input interface, and customization server. Theelectronic file that includes the manufacturing information indicatingthe customizations selected by the user may be transmitted to the remoteprinter, and the printer may customize the article of footwear at aremote location. The customized article of footwear may then bedelivered to the customer, e.g., via express mail or express parceldelivery.

While the invention has been described with respect to specific examplesincluding presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that numerous variations andpermutations of the above described systems and techniques may be madewithout departing from this invention. For example, the systems,methods, and/or user interfaces may include more, less, and/or differentfunctionality from that described above, and the various features of thesystems, methods, and/or user interfaces may be activated or interactedwith in various different manners (e.g., using different types ofinterface elements) from those described above. Also the various processsteps may be changed, changed in order, some omitted, and/or includeadditional steps or features without departing from this invention.Various changes and modifications to the systems, methods, and userinterfaces may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for customizing consumer productscomprising: presenting, by a touch screen, a rendering of a customizableproduct to a user; presenting, by the touch screen, a set ofcustomizations of a feature of the product on a linearly scrollable axiswherein the axis passes through the rendering and wherein first andsecond customizations of the set of customizations are depicted on theaxis and positioned adjacent to each other on the axis; in response toreceiving, by the touch screen, a first input from the user causingscrolling of the axis, updating the rendering of the product upon thefirst or second customization traversing the rendering of the productduring scrolling of the axis by presenting the product as beingcustomized with the first or second customization, wherein, duringscrolling of the axis, the first and second customizations do notobscure at least a portion of the rendering of the product; in responseto receiving, by the touch screen, a second input from the user,selecting the first or second customization, updating the rendering ofthe product to present the product as being customized with the first orsecond customization, and generating, using a template corresponding tothe first or second customization, an electronic file having productmanufacturing details that indicate the first or second customization;and manufacturing the product according to the product manufacturingdetails of the electronic file.
 2. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising: customizing the product based on the product manufacturingdetails of the electronic file; and transmitting a message to the userindicating when the customizing of the product is complete.
 3. Themethod of claim 2 wherein: the product is an article of footwear; andcustomizing the product includes printing the first or secondcustomization on the article of footwear.
 4. The method of claim 3wherein the set of customizations is a first set of customizations, thescrollable axis is a first scrollable axis, and further comprising:presenting, by the touch screen, a second set of customizations of asecond feature of the product on a second scrollable axis.
 5. The methodof claim 4 wherein the first scrollable axis and the second scrollableaxis intersect and further comprising: positioning, by the touch screen,the rendering of the product such that a center of the rendering islocated at an intersection of the first scrollable axis and the secondscrollable axis.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein: the first scrollableaxis is oriented horizontally; and the second scrollable axis isoriented vertically.
 7. The method of claim 4 wherein the firstscrollable axis and the second scrollable axis are parallel and furthercomprising: positioning, by the touch screen, the rendering of theproduct such that a center of the rendering is located between the firstscrollable axis and the second scrollable axis.
 8. The method of claim 4wherein: the first set of customizations is a set of graphics, eachgraphic in the set of graphics being printable on a portion of thearticle of footwear; and the second set of customizations is a set ofbase colors for the article of footwear.
 9. The method of claim 4wherein: the first set of customizations is a set of graphics, eachgraphic in the set of graphics being printable on a portion of thearticle of footwear; and the second set of customizations is a set ofcolors for a graphic selected by the user from the set of graphics. 10.The method of claim 1 further comprising: receiving textual data fromthe user through a touch interface of the touch screen; updating therendering of the product to display the textual data on a portion of theproduct; and wherein the set of customizations is one of a set of colorsfor the textual data, a set of fonts for the textual data, or a set offill patterns for the textual data.
 11. A system for customizingconsumer products comprising: a display device that presents to a user arendering of a customizable product and a set of customizations of afeature of the product on a linearly scrollable axis wherein the axispasses through the rendering and wherein first and second customizationsof the set of customizations are depicted on the axis and positionedadjacent to each other on the axis; a touch interface that receives aselection at the scrollable axis from the user, the selection indicatingselection of the first or second customization; a customization systemthat updates the rendering of the product i) when the first or secondcustomization traverses the rendering of the product during scrolling ofthe axis to present the product as being customized with the first orsecond customizations, wherein, during scrolling of the axis, the firstand second customizations do not obscure at least a portion of therendering of the product, and ii) upon selection of the first or secondcustomization to present the product as being customized with the firstor second customization; a plurality of templates, each template of theplurality of templates corresponding to one of the customizations in theset of customizations; and an electronic file used to manufacture theproduct, the electronic file having product manufacturing details from atemplate of the plurality of templates corresponding to the first orsecond customization.
 12. The system of claim 11 further comprising: aprinter that prints the first or second customization on the productbased on the product manufacturing details of the electronic file. 13.The system of claim 12 wherein the printer is located remotely relativeto the display device, the touch interface, and the customizationsystem.
 14. The system of claim 11 wherein: the set of customizations isa first set of customizations; the scrollable axis is a first scrollableaxis; and the display device presents to the user a second set ofcustomizations of a second feature of the product on a second scrollableaxis.
 15. The system of claim 14 wherein: the first scrollable axis andthe second scrollable axis intersect; and the display device positionsthe rendering of the product such that a center of the rendering islocated at an intersection of the first scrollable axis and the secondscrollable axis.
 16. The system of claim 14 wherein: the first set ofcustomizations is a first color for a first portion of the product; andthe second set of customizations is a second color for a second portionof the product.
 17. The system of claim 14 wherein: the first set ofcustomizations is a set of graphics, each graphic in the set of graphicsbeing printable on a portion of the product; and the second set ofcustomization is one of a set of colors for a graphic selected by theuser from the set of graphics or a set of fill patterns for the graphicselected.
 18. The system of claim 11 wherein: the touch interfacereceives textual data from the user; the customization system updatesthe rendering of the product to display the textual data on a portion ofthe product; and the set of customizations is one of a set of colors forthe textual data, a set of fonts for the textual data, or a set of fillpatterns for the textual data.
 19. The system of claim 11 wherein: thetouch interface receives at least one of an adjustment of at least oneof a size, an orientation, and a location on the product of the first orsecond customization; and the customization system updates the renderingof the product based on the adjustment.
 20. The system of claim 11wherein the product is an article of footwear.